Stories by Peter de Graaf
News
Far North District Council vote on Māori wards postponed
The vote will be held on Friday to avoid a clash with the final day of Kiingi Tuheitia's tangi.
Two by Twos sect accusations: Man facing historical sex charges expected to enter plea
The 79-year-old was arrested during an investigation into accusations of sex offending when he was part of the secretive sect.
'It could have been lights out' - Disabled man assaulted over parking space
A disabled Northland man was punched twice in the head outside Countdown in Kerikeri.
Meet NZ's rarest bird - and those hoping to save it
Three new research projects aim to boost the chances of survival of New Zealand's rarest bird.
Whangārei District Council votes against scrapping Māori ward
Whangārei District councillors have voted down a motion to abolish their Māori ward in a two-hour, often emotional debate.
Whangārei District Council to vote on Māori wards, supporters plan rally
The council currently has two Māori ward councillors, Phoenix Ruka and Deb Harding, elected at large across the district.
Poorest New Zealanders paying highest power prices
The city with the highest average income has the cheapest electricity, data reveals.
Man who tried to escape police by swimming out to sea appears in court
Levi Johns spent an hour in the sea before surrendering on a Coastguard vessel.
Far North's biggest community housing development to open
Te Kohekohe will provide 60 homes in an area where accommodation is in desperately short supply.
Suspected boat burglar swims away in slow-motion police chase
Police say the man missed his calling: "He should have been a marathon swimmer."
Dargaville Hospital to remain open despite nurses strike next week
The strike has been planned to highlight the fear nurses have about working in a hospital with no doctors after-hours.
'Exceedingly rare, extremely elusive': Baby whale identified
The whale was discovered on a beach at Te Kaha and has finally been identified through DNA analysis.
Four arrests after shot fired during store robbery
Two others are being sought after robbers entered the store armed with an axe and a long-barrelled rifle.
Man arrested after fatal house fire in Northland
August Lemon was arrested this week and appeared in Whangārei District Court, charged with knowingly endangering life by setting fire to property.
Nurses to strike over concerns about lack of doctors after-hours
Stressed-out nurses in Dargaville are going on strike over fears for staff and patients while there is no doctor at the beleaguered hospital.
Toxic mould at ambulance site adds to health woes in Bay of Islands
Kawakawa's ambulance service has already been under extra pressure due to recent staff shortages at the hospital.
Woman faces 14-hour round trips to doctor as shortage bites
Tangipo Ryder returned home to family land a year ago, but can't enrol with a doctor anywhere nearby. Audio
Doctors speak out as new patients turned away from hospital
"The employed staff already work 40-60 hours per week, plus additional shifts," doctors say.
'Zombie fish' turning up in major river
When Sam Erickson started hooking one sickly snapper after another, he knew something was seriously wrong.
Multi-million dollar scheme aims to put cork in constant flooding
Devastating floods that have swamped three towns may soon be a thing of the past - or at least less frequent.
Relief on the way for Northland's dire health staffing, minister says
A visit to Northland for Shane Reti came against the backdrop of a staffing crisis in the region's rural hospitals.
Northport appeals decision to refuse consent for major port expansion
Northland's port company is appealing a decision to refuse consent for a major expansion, saying the commissioners made a series of errors when they ruled it would have serious adverse effects on…
Hundreds join forces to restore life force of harbour - 'It's a win-win'
The aim is to halve the amount of sediment washing into the country's biggest harbour within 10 years.
Northland family have nightmares after Noel Leeming armed robbery
A group of men charged into the store in Waipapa with a gun and an axe, with a shot fired over the heads of a couple and their mother.
Competition lands in Northland as Barrier Air flights to Kerikeri begin
The inaugural Barrier Air flight between Auckland and Kerikeri landed on Sunday evening.